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Quite the line-up there, huh? With the benefit of twenty-seven years hindsight, I would have ranked them as follows:
1) EPMD – Business As Usual
2) Brand Nubian – All For One
3) A Tribe Called Quest – The Low End Theory
4) Main Source – Breaking Atoms
5) Scarface – Mr. Scarface Is Back
6) De La Soul – De La Soul Is Dead
7) GETO Boys – We Can’t Be Stopped
8) Gang Starr – Step In The Arena
9) Cypress Hill – Cypress Hill
10) NWA – Niggaz 4 Life
11) Nice & Smooth – Ain’t A Damn Thing Changed
12) Naughty By Nature – Naughty By Nature
13) Public Enemy – Apocalypse ’91: The Enemy Strikes Back
14) DJ Quik – Quik Is The Name
15) Chubb Rock – The One
Regardless of the order, that was a pretty effin’ great year for rap!
Might be worth doing proper versions of these, year-by-year, without the November to October restriction. WC and The MADD Circle, Ice-T and KMD need to be included at the very least.
You going to do ones for the rest of the 90s, Rob?
@esto: Sure, could be interesting…let me see if I can find one for 1990.
Here you go Robbie
The Source (Jan 1991 Issue) PDF
http://www10.zippyshare.com/v/jBV9HExS/file.html
@JMS: Thanks but I just found my copy!
@Robbie haha all good, well there is a digital version for easy access :)
If Business As Usual & All For One were included in the 1990 list idk if even PE or Amerikkkas Most would beat them for me. Death Certificate would prob be number 1 for the 91 list too.
Rly wanna see the Unkut 90 list w Wanted Dead Or Alive on top.
Off the top….
1) Death certificate
2) OG: original gangster
3) Step in the arena
4) Low end theory
5) Mr Hood
6) We can’t be stopped
7) De la soul is dead
8) make way for the motherlode
9) horns of jericho
10) Sons of the P
11) organised Konfusion
12) Breaking atoms
13) I wish my brother george was here
14) Apocalypse 1991: the Enemy strikes black
15) A future without a past
why did they include some 1990 albums and ignored organized’s amazing debut?
your top 8 plus organized and “death certificate” would make my top 10.
btw, scarface’s first album is one of the illest rap-a-lot releases of all times – and the best geto boys-related album besides “grip it”! ever thought about a rap-a-lot ranking?
@Dino: I’m planning on doing a separate post on my actual picks for the year, since a lot of good stuff was left out.
@Kool Max Power: Blame it on their ‘November to October’ rule which excluded some of the best. A Rap-A-Lot ranking is a great idea as well.
OG!! Ice T is criminally slept on and OG is an undisputable masterpiece. Also, good looking out for selecting Sons of the P and Wish My Brother George…both front to back classics. The Source (and most big rap publications) were always wack for their East-centric sensibilities. They ignored a tonne of brilliant West Coast artists and albums.
Also, Make Way For the Motherlode? You’re a G for that one
Yeah, I’m not sure why O.G. still gets overlooked in a lot of rap best-of lists. Definitely one of Ice’s strongest albums. Sons Of The P is crazy underrated too. Production is excellent.
death certificate probably got released right after this list came out
uhhh @J.M.S. ummm can we have more classic Source PDF’s? And thanks for that one..
@Jay…no problem B…yeah sure, here are 3 more.
If people want more, just shoot me an Email.
The Source – May 1990 PDF
http://www11.zippyshare.com/v/kCdE0grS/file.html
The Source – May 1991 PDF
http://www11.zippyshare.com/v/1k94vIDV/file.html
The Source – June 1991 PDF
http://www11.zippyshare.com/v/zrITVC46/file.html
Chubb Rock and PE shouldn’t even be on here. I think Godfather Don’s first album came out in ’91. I didn’t hear it back then and if you say you did you’re probably lying.
Great to have you back Robbie. I need to teleport back to 1991 and find someone to look me in the eye and say “NWA’s second LP is better than Breaking Atoms”.
Damn! Only just remembered MC Solaar’s “Qui sème le vent récolte le tempo” dropped in 91: https://youtu.be/P5K39uWzGGU
The wacky dating system they used distorts the true spectrum. Robbie, I’d like to see your ’91 CRC approved ranking, with succinct reasoning. I’d have Kokane in my top 15 easily, much slept on. I’m unsure if you would!
Agree, and LOLLERBLADES, re: Donny, as I got into him around the Cenobites era. True rap artist…
No love for Penicillin On Wax?
@J.M.S. You just made my day…email coming…
@J.M.S. Whats your email? Got so hyped I forgot to ask..
Come on, Robbie. Business as Usual over Breaking Atoms? Cypress Hill over Efil4zaggin? Madness!
@Slappy: I stand by my decision. Andre’s shit rapping on the NWA really takes the shine off.
@Jay All good Jay…[email protected]
I am proud to say that I still own Godfather’s Don first album Hazardous I bought it in 1991 on tape and I still listen to it today
Slick Rick – The Ruler’s Back
A mix of Rick’s zany humor and the sober reality of the situation he was in. You could feel the sense of urgency he and Vance had in making the record. Can’t compete with Tribe, Cypress Hill and Nice & Smooth,but still cracks the top 10 for me.
I’m a bitch